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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (92706)	4/12/2003 5:52:14 AM
From: Gary Ng	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Re: Because all of the spoiled approaches have failed. Did USA try in Africa ? I am under the impression that it was mostly France and Britain that tried. With the massive administrative skill of US, why not give it a try ? Beside, why like a Japanese or Chinese corp do it ? They don't have a very good corporate culture to begin with. Even if it is a corp, why not a US corp ?

To: LindyBill who wrote (92706)	4/12/2003 5:57:26 AM
From: D. Long	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Professor Peace Studies is just beside himself at the utter disaster unfolding. Ready to haul British commanders before the War Crimes court, I'm sure. news.bbc.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------- British 'breaching Geneva Convention' UK forces in Iraq may be in breach of the Geneva Convention, an expert has warned, as lawlessness continues to damage the southern city of Basra. Bradford University peace studies professor Paul Rogers told BBC News: "Any occupying power that has destroyed a regime is responsible for maintenance of hospitals, medical services and food supplies. "The British are failing to fulfil their responsibilities under the Geneva Convention." UK troops were "neither sufficient nor properly trained" to "maintain public order", Professor Rogers added. "They have not been able to control the looting." On Friday UK troops shot and killed five Iraqi bank robbers during looting in the city. If they suddenly realise the British are prepared to open fire to stop people breaking the law, it will stop a lot of people Colonel Bob Stewart A British soldier was receiving treatment in a field hospital after being shot in the stomach when the robbers opened fire. The patrol from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards initially thought the bank robbers were looters but the soldiers were then shot at, a UK military source told the Press Association. Colonel Bob Stewart, who was the first UN commander in Bosnia during the civil war there, told BBC News British troops needed to "make it quite clear people breaking the law are liable to be shot". "If they suddenly realise the British are prepared to open fire to stop people breaking the law, it will stop a lot of people acting in an unlawful manner and threatening the normal people of Basra. "If it continues it will become something that will not only erode the good will of the Iraqi people but be used as a stick to beat us with by the rest of the Arab world." Meanwhile, four RAF Tornado F-3s have already returned to the UK and more planes, helicopters, field hospital units and ships, including HMS Ark Royal, are set to follow. But Professor Rodgers said any British withdrawals would be "disastrous". Downing Street said on Friday it believed that the situation in Basra was now calm and hoped that this process could be repeated across the country. But the BBC's Clive Myrie, with troops in Basra, says the streets remain dangerous. "The liberation honeymoon is over," he told BBC News. "Lawlessness is rife - looting, muggings, robberies. The manpower simply isn't here to chase all Basra's criminals. There are too few troops on the streets." International Development Secretary Clare Short called on the coalition forces to make a "massively bigger effort" to stop the looting and violence that is blighting the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Basra. Law and order 'duty' There are also concerns of a growing humanitarian crisis in southern Iraq as charities complain most areas are inaccessible to aid organisations. Ms Short said the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organization had called on the coalition to prioritise the security of hospitals. In Basra General Hospital, rumours emerged that doctors were stealing medical aid and charging extortionate prices to dispense it from their own private clinics. Community leaders have told British military commanders in Basra that they themselves want to restore order with only the minimum of help from coalition troops.